Can a creative, hard-working family make a living working with nature? Join us on the journey from idea to practice as we revive an Iowa farmstead

January 26, 2011 – Where’s the Beef?

After the post a few weeks ago when I discovered that Dean’s Guacamole dip contained less than 2% avocado, the Taco Bell meat controversy deserves some time as well. A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Taco Bell claiming that the products contain “seasoned beef” are misleading because the lawsuit claims the filling is only 35% beef. Taco Bell claims it is not true. It really shouldn’t take long to figure it out right?

Looking at the legal definitions, puts this at a whole ‘nother level. The USDA definition states that “Ground Beef” must contain at least 70% beef (the rest can be beef fat). Taco Bell claims that their “ground beef” contains “88% USDA inspected quality beef,” Creed said. The rest of the recipe includes: 3%-5% water, 3%-5% spices and 3%-5% oats, starch, sugar, yeast, citric acid, and other ingredients. So, if my math is right and you use the cheapest beef (70% beef) and subtract 12% for the ingredients Taco Bell claims it adds to the “ground beef,” you wind up with something that is about 62% beef.

According to the law, “Taco Beef Filling” must contain 40% beef. Tired yet? My point in this dust-up is that it is unreasonable to expect that when you plop down a buck for a dollar meal, can anyone think that the ingredients are top of the line, or even reasonable knock-offs of what they are imitating?